Falk: “Settlement Construction Makes Peace Seem Like a Mirage”

Prof. Falk added that "Israel's" escalating expansion of settlements in East Al Quds (Jerusalem) and the West Bank, the ongoing demolition of Arab homes and the expulsion of local Palestinians from Al Quds (Jerusalem), are making any peace deal based on a two-state solution impossible to achieve.

Speaking to the General Assembly, Falk said that a two-state solution "seems increasingly problematic because it would require a substantial reversal of the settlement process."

He held "Israel" and the United Nations responsible for the declining situation of Human Rights in the occupied territories, and slammed the UN for failing to respond to complaints regarding "Israel's" refusal to cooperate with him and to allow him to visit the occupied territories.

Responding to last month's statements of "Israel's" Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, in which he told the UN that a solution to the conflict could take decades, Falk said that this represents a current line of negotiations as "Israel" wants an international recognition for annexing more Palestinian lands.

He also said that the United States, although initially slammed settlement activities, is currently rephrasing its stances by only stating that "settlements contradict with the efforts to create the momentum for peace".

Falk also said that "Israel's" unlawful settlements, the demolition of Palestinian homes in East Al Quds (Jerusalem), and the revocation of Palestinian residence rights in the occupied city, makes the goal of a Palestinian capital in East Al Quds (Jerusalem) "increasingly difficult to envisage".

He further stated that the cost of "Israel's" ongoing occupation to the Palestinian territories in leading to an enormous human cost "in terms of the daily existence of every Palestinian trapped in this reality", the Jerusalem Post reported.

As for the situation in Gaza, Falk said that "Israel" made a serious mistake by not dealing with Hamas as an effective political factor, and that by regarding it as a terrorist group, "there will be no progress in peace talks".

He also slammed "Israel's" ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip and regarded it as illegal, and slammed "Israel's" deadly attack on the Freedom Flotilla.